Coal Twp. man, wanted since May, taken into custody

SHAMOKIN — A 33-year-old Coal Township man wanted by authorities since May was taken into custody Wednesday morning at his residence by state parole agents and police and charged in connection with the assault of another Coal Township resident in Zerbe Township.
Ronald C. Bowman, of 908 W. State St., was arraigned shortly before 10 a.m. by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III on two felony counts of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor of simple assault filed by Zerbe Township Police Chief Robert John.
Bowman, who also was wanted for a parole violation, had eluded authorities for approximately six months after a warrant was issued for his arrest in the alleged May 26 assault of Brian Kitchen, 47, of Coal Township, in a mountainous area known as the “Sands” in Zerbe Township. Kitchen suffered two broken eye orbits, a broken nose and two broken ribs that required him to be treated at a local hospital, police said.
The suspect was taken into custody at about 8 a.m. at his residence by several state parole agents and Coal Township police. He was escorted to his arraignment by state parole agent Susan Stout, Coal Township Patrolman Terry Ketchem and Constable Glenn Masser.
During his arraignment, Bowman, who was wearing a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers, told the judge he had disappeared for a “little bit” and claimed to have been stabbed in the lung area by another man Monday. Bowman, who identified his alleged attacker, said he mended the stab wound himself and filed a complaint in the incident with Coal Township police upon being taken into custody Wednesday morning. Bowman said the alleged stabbing incident occurred in Coal Township.
Masser told Gembic that Bowman would have to be transported to a hospital for further medical attention before he could be incarcerated at Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury on $75,000 cash bail set by the judge.
Gembic ordered Bowman to appear for a preliminary hearing at his office at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Richard Lee Lahr III, 31, of 1044 W. Spruce St., Coal Township, was previously charged by John with the same offenses in connection with the assault of Kitchen.
Lahr, who violated his probation by being charged in the alleged assault, also had eluded authorities before turning himself over to Constable Glenn Masser on July 16.
Lahr waived to court his preliminary hearing Aug. 14 and is awaiting further court action. He remains incarcerated in the county jail.